ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 19, 1996 TAG: 9612190043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
The University of Virginia has sold approximately 5,200 tickets for its Carquest Bowl matchup with Miami, easily surpassing the Cavaliers' sales from their previous trip to Miami in 1993.
``I don't think you can compare it with our sales for the Peach Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Citrus Bowl or the Sugar Bowl,'' said Dick Mathias, UVa's ticket manager. ``We've averaged about 15,000 for those games.
``I think, for this situation, that 5,200 is pretty good. We'll continue selling and, in fact, we've done particularly well over the last 10 days.''
Mathias said UVa sold 3,006 tickets to the 1993 Carquest Bowl against Boston College and approximately 2,000 tickets to the 1994 Independence Bowl against Texas Christian. He said it was his understanding North Carolina sold 3,000 tickets when it played Arkansas in the Carquest Bowl last year.
``I think almost everybody in our conference could bring 20,000 to the Peach Bowl [in Atlanta] because it's within driving distance,'' Mathias said. ``I think the date [Dec.27] for this game doesn't do anything to enhance sales. Plus, it's hard to make plane connections.''
``If you want to drive and you don't want to leave Christmas Day, then you have to drive pretty much all day on the 26th. To be honest with you, we've done a lot with our alums in South Florida. We've hit them a couple of times with direct mail and advertised in the Miami Herald.''
Mathias said UVa's ticket sales could reach the 6,000 mark.
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB